System, device, and method for improving sports swing striking accuracy

ABSTRACT

A device, system and method for managing swinging effectiveness of a sports related striking object configured to strike a struck object, is disclosed. The struck object may have a struck object diameter. The device may include a chalklike material, a substantially spherical shape, and a diameter of between approximately ⅕ to ⅓ the struck object diameter. The method may include: placing a first substantially spherical chalklike object on a golf tee; taking a first swing with a golf club and striking the substantially spherical chalklike object with a golf club thereby leaving a chalklike mark on a striking surface of the golf club; viewing the chalklike mark on the striking surface, and noting a first difference between a location of the chalklike mark and a sweet spot on the striking surface; placing a second substantially spherical chalklike object on the golf tee; taking a second swing with the golf club and striking the second spherical chalklike object with the golf club and adjusting the second swing in order to minimize a second difference between a second chalklike mark made from striking the second spherical chalklike object and the sweet spot on the striking surface based on the first distance noted in the noting.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to a system, device, and method for improving sports swing accuracy, and more specifically to a substantially spherical object that may be struck by a striking object swung by a user, which may leave a mark on a striking surface of the striking object to provide a visual feedback of accuracy of the swing.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

When practicing a sport wherein an object is struck by a striking implement, such as, for example: striking a golf ball with a golf club; hitting a baseball with a baseball bat; hitting a hockey puck with a hockey stick; hitting a tennis ball with a tennis racket; hitting a cricket ball with a cricket bat; hitting a polo ball with a polo mallet, and the like, hitting accuracy can have a direct effect on far and/or accurately the struck object will travel. Many, or all, sports striking implements have a so called sweet spot which is the ideal location to hit the struck object. Sweet spot sizes may vary depending on the design of the striking object, but as an example, a sweet spot on some golf clubs may be as small as a 2.5 cm across. Hits outside of this area may be less efficient. The golf ball may travel less far with a given stoke speed when the golf ball is struck by portions of the club strike face outside the sweet spot verses when stuck within the sweet spot. In addition, where on the striking surface the object is struck may affect the direction the object travels.

Current hand-eye training devices focus primarily on targeting actual sized balls. One targeting system provides a golf club face contact tape to allow only feedback on regular sized golf balls.

Thus what is needed is a device, system, or method to help a player more consistently hit a sport projectile inside the sweet spot of the striking surface of the striking implement.

Further, what is also needed are multiple inexpensive benign target objects that may be stuck to leave an indication of the striking accuracy. What is further needed is a target object which may be more difficult to hit than the intended sport projectile in order to encourage a more focused, and concentrated swing by the player. What is further need is a target object which may leave a mark on the striking implement that leave a precise indicator, for example a substantially small mark.

Various embodiments may provide a system, device and method that may be used as a hand-eye coordination training device. Embodiments may be teed up and struck with a golf club, and may leave a residue where club face meets the chalk. Embodiments may improve hand-eye coordination in athletes by training the eye to deliver the club to a smaller target point with instant feedback on location of strike. Training with embodiments disclosed herein may make hitting an actual object ball easier because hand-eye coordination is focused on a smaller target point.

One embodiment provides a chalk object that may be about a tenth the size of a regulation golf ball and may therefore provide a smaller target area. In some cases the chalk objects may be between ⅕th and ⅓th the diameter of a golf ball. In some cases the chalk objects may be approximately ¼th the diameter of a golf ball. Other sizes may be used.

In some cases 1 cm diameter spheres of chalk may be packaged by the dozen which may provide numerous inexpensive practice opportunities. In some cases larger pieces of chalk may be rounded down to leave an approximately 1 cm diameter “chalk ball”.

Embodiments may provide a golf training device/aid, for golfers of all ability levels which may improve their hand-eye coordination and their ball striking on the range or at home. The benign chalklike, or chalk material may simply be swept up, washed away, or mixed with the surrounding dirt in some cases.

A user may place an individual piece of impact chalk on a stable hitting surface (like a tee if on the range) and take a normal swing trying to mark the middle of the club face with the chalk residue that results from hitting the impact chalk at even low club-head speeds. In some cases a user may repeat, for example, 20-50 times per session trying to consistently place chalk mark in same middle location.

Embodiments may be used for many sports, such as, baseball, hockey, tennis, polo, cricket, or any other sport where an object ball is struck with a club, and hand eye coordination may benefit from training with a smaller targeted hitting area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, when considered in conjunction with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention sought to be protected.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an example target object to be struck, and a device that may be used to improve the hitting performance of the example target object in accordance with the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of a golf club illustrating a striking surface, an example a sweet spot, and an example mark left by striking a device in accordance with the present embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

The following description is of an example embodiment in accordance with the current disclosure. FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a device 10 for managing swinging effectiveness of a sports related striking object configured to strike a struck object 15, in accordance with the present embodiment. The struck object 15 may also be referred to as an object 15 to be struck. The object 15 to be struck may in, for example, a sport such as golf. The struck object 15 may have a struck object diameter 20, the device 10 may include a chalklike material, a substantially spherical shape, and a device diameter 25 of between approximately ⅕ to ⅓ the struck object diameter 20. In some cases the diameter 25 of the device 10 may be approximately ¼ the struck object diameter 20.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an example striking object 30, which in the example illustrated may be a golf club 30. The struck object may be a golf ball 15. The device 10 may be configured to leave a mark 35 on a striking face 40 of the striking object 30 at a point of contact of the striking face 40 with the device 10. The mark 35 left on the striking face 40 may provides a visual indication showing a difference 45 between the point of contact, i.e. the mark 35, and a predetermined location 50 on the striking face 40. The difference may provide a determination of a level of accuracy of the strike, and accordingly the effectiveness of the swing.

In the illustrated example the striking object is a golf club 30 and the struck object is a golf ball 15. It will be understood, however that the striking object may be one of a golf club, a baseball bat, a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a polo mallet, and a cricket bat and the like.

The predetermined location may be a sweet spot on one of a group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a polo mallet, and a cricket bat, and the like. In the example illustrated the predetermined location is a sweet spot 50 on the golf club 30.

The chalklike material of the device 10 may be a brittle porous material that may tend to crumble, and/or shatter when struck, and that may tend to leave a mark 35 on the striking face 40. The chalklike material may be, for example, chalk.

FIGS. 1 and 2 also illustrate a system for improving a golf swing. The system may include a substantially spherical target object 10 that may be comprised substantially of a chalklike material configured to leave a mark 35 on a golf club striking surface 40. The substantially spherical target object 10 may have a diameter 25 of between approximately ⅕ to ⅓ of the diameter 20 of a golf ball 15. The substantially spherical target object 10 may be configured to be placed on a golf tee.

Various embodiments may provide a method of managing golf swing accuracy. The method may include: placing a first substantially spherical chalklike object on a golf tee; taking a first swing with a golf club and striking the substantially spherical chalklike object with the golf club thereby leaving a chalklike mark on a striking surface of the golf club; viewing the chalklike mark on the striking surface, and noting a first difference between a location of the chalklike mark and a sweet spot on the striking surface; placing a second substantially spherical chalklike object on the golf tee; taking a second swing with the golf club and striking the second spherical chalklike object with the golf club and adjusting the second swing in order to minimize a second difference between a second chalklike mark made from striking the second spherical chalklike object and the sweet spot on the striking surface based on the first distance noted in the noting.

The first and second substantially spherical chalklike objects may each have a diameter of between approximately ⅕ to ⅓ of a diameter of the golf ball. In some cases the first and second substantially spherical chalklike objects each have a diameter of approximately ¼ of a diameter of the golf ball.

Various embodiments may provide a method of managing object striking effectiveness for striking a target object with a striking implement. The method may include: striking a first substantially spherical chalklike object with the striking implement, and leaving a first mark on a striking surface of the striking implement; noting a location of the first mark on the striking surface and evaluating a difference between the location of the first mark and a predetermined location on the striking surface. The method may then include one of the following: based on the difference between the location of the first mark and the predetermined location on the striking surface, adjusting a subsequent swing of the striking implement in order to minimize a subsequent distance between a subsequent mark made on the striking surface and the predetermined location on the striking surface; and taking a subsequent swing and attempting to strike a second spherical chalklike object with the striking surface at the same location as the location of the first mark.

In some cases the predetermined location may be a sweet spot on a golf club. In some cases the predetermined location may be a sweet spot on one of a group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a polo mallet, and a cricket bat.

Some embodiments may include providing instructions to instruct performance of one or more of the aforementioned methods.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the present disclosure so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A device for managing swinging effectiveness of a sports related striking object configured to strike a struck object, the struck object having a struck object diameter, the device comprising: a chalklike material; a substantially spherical shape; and a diameter of between approximately ⅕ to ⅓ the struck object diameter.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the device is approximately ¼ the struck object diameter.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to leave a mark on a striking face of the striking object at a point of contact of the striking face with the device.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the mark left on the contact face provides a visual indication showing a difference between the point of contact and a predetermined location on the striking face. of a level of accuracy
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the predetermined location is a sweet spot on one of a group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a polo mallet, and a cricket bat.
 6. The device of claim 2, wherein the predetermined location is a sweet spot on a golf club.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the chalklike material is a brittle porous material.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the chalklike material is chalk.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the striking object is a golf club.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the struck object is a golf ball.
 11. The device of claim 1, striking object is one of a golf club, a baseball bat, a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a polo mallet, and a cricket bat.
 12. A system for improving a golf swing comprising: a substantially spherical target object comprised substantially of a chalklike material configured to leave a mark on a golf club striking surface wherein the substantially spherical target object has a diameter of between approximately ⅕ to ⅓ of a diameter of a golf ball wherein the substantially spherical target object is configured to be placed on a golf tee.
 13. A method of managing golf swing accuracy comprising: placing a first substantially spherical chalklike object on a golf tee; taking a first swing with a golf club and striking the substantially spherical chalklike object with the golf club thereby leaving a chalklike mark on a striking surface of the golf club; viewing the chalklike mark on the striking surface, and noting a first difference between a location of the chalklike mark and a sweet spot on the striking surface; placing a second substantially spherical chalklike object on the golf tee; and taking a second swing with the golf club and striking the second spherical chalklike object with the golf club and adjusting the second swing in order to minimize a second difference between a second chalklike mark made from striking the second spherical chalklike object and the sweet spot on the striking surface based on the first distance noted in the noting.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second substantially spherical chalklike objects each have a diameter of between approximately ⅕ to ⅓ of a diameter of the golf ball.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second substantially spherical chalklike objects each have a diameter of approximately ¼ of a diameter of the golf ball.
 16. A method of managing object striking effectiveness for striking a target object with a striking implement, the method comprising: striking a first substantially spherical chalklike object with the striking implement, and leaving a first mark on a striking surface of the striking implement; noting a location of the first mark on the striking surface and evaluating a difference between the location of the first mark and a predetermined location on the striking surface; and one of; based on the difference between the location of the first mark and the predetermined location on the striking surface, adjusting a subsequent swing of the striking implement in order to minimize a subsequent distance between a subsequent mark made on the striking surface and the predetermined location on the striking surface; and taking a subsequent swing and attempting to strike a second spherical chalklike object with the striking surface at the same location as the location of the first mark.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined location is a sweet spot on a golf club.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein predetermined location is a sweet spot on one of a group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a polo mallet, and a cricket bat.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein predetermined location is a sweet spot on one of a golf club, a baseball bat, a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a polo mallet, and a cricket bat. 